Regarding Steve Martin

I find it interesting that Steve Martin's book, Pure Drivel, has a direct relationship between how funny it is and how surprising it is. By this, I mean that while still a bit humorous and witty, in a wry sort of way, it becomes less and less actually funny the more you read it and the less surprised you are by the punchline of any given part. The first time I read it, the book had me in tears; yet each successive time I read it in the passing years, the less it actually makes me laugh. I can still enjoy Martin's talent in writing, and to this day I've never found anything comparable to his short chapter which contains only one period while still being completely grammatically correct, as well as genuinely enjoyable to read.

As I recall the movies I've seen him in, his bits on SNL, and some of his stand-up, I think that this is true of him in general. When he surprises me with something silly, it seems absolutely hilarious at the time, but when you go back again later, it's just not very funny anymore. I still quite like the guy, but I find this aspect of the man rather disappointing. His seems to be a humor that does not prevail over time. I wonder why that is.